Epic Saturday

While I have many long training days leading into an ironman race, there's typically that ONE day that stands out.  For me, that day was yesterday.  It consisted of an early swim, a 6 hour ride, and an hour run w/tempo.  This workout was originally scheduled for last weekend, but w/Jenn in China, I didn't want to leave my dog by herself all day (and this w/out would take ALL DAY).  So, I spoke to my coach and we bumped it out by a week.  My day started at 5:45, as I started to get some food in me.  I got the wetsuit on and headed to Mystic Lake for my swim.  Originally, I was supposed to go for an hour, but since I swam the day before, I reduced it to 35 minutes.  It was a good swim.  I'm feeling very good in the open water right now.  However, since most of the pools in the area shut down for a couple of weeks this time of year, I haven't been in a pool since the end of August.  I need to get in some speed and stroke work over the next few weeks, as my pool opens back up tomorrow.  After my swim, I quickly got home and got ready to ride.  I was meeting Tim Tapply in Concord Center (about a 30 minute ride)...so I was on a schedule.  As soon as I got on my bike, I knew that this was going to be a long day.  My quads hurt immediately....and I also was having difficulty getting "dialed" into my bike.  I have these stretches, where I just don't feel comfortable.  Hopefully that will go away in the next couple of weeks...as I have no intention of screwing around w/my bike fit right now.  Anyway, after manuevering through the parade that was happening in Concord, Tim and I finally caught up w/each other at Walden Pond.  We proceeded to do a long loop that I sometimes ride (ultimately, I did the loop 3 times).  Fortunately for me, Tim also wasn't feeling great....so we could suffer together.  It was a decent ride from an effort standpoint....although my power was lacking a bit.  I did have one incident where my Gel Flask basically exploded on me.  It was my fault...the cap wasn't screwed on flush.  There's nothing like gel covering your hands...it might as well be crazy glue.  The only good thing was that it happened about 10 minutes before we had planned to stop at a store...where I could wash it off.  Tim peeled off from me at about 4.5 hours in....so I did the last loop solo.  I was definitely starting to suffer.  For some reason my right knee was really bothering me on the ride....and was hindering my ability to ride.  I did my best to keep working....but was really starting to get worried about the run...something that I was trying not to think about.  The last thing you want to do during one of these days is think about how much the next part is going to hurt (just like an IM).  I managed to pull in my driveway at 6:04....my longest ride this year...heck...probably since 2008.  I was hurting as I walked in my house.  I ate a banana and got dressed to run.  Out the door....knees were hurting a little...but not quite as bad as I thought they'd be.  After a 7:16 first mile, I started to get dialed in and realized that I was going to be okay.  The run was supposed to be 40 minutes of IM tempo (I did 45 minutes...because I forgot what I was supposed to do).  So, as I locked into a HR and pace....I clipped off mid 6 minute miles....and kept my HR right where it was supposed to be.  Where the hell did this come from....I actually felt good.  All in all, I averaged 6:50 pace w/cooldown.  Very nice way to finish things off.

Thankfully this one is over.  Today is a split run...w/the longest portion being only 1:15.  Managable.  Next week is another long ride...but only 5 hours.  The Sunday run, however, is a bit more daunting.  It's another split run:  1:45 (w/tempo) in the AM; 1 hour in the PM.  After that, I suspect that things will start to taper down.  After 7 straight years of this type of training, I will say that I won't miss it.  I'll still incorporate some long rides and runs into the season....but starting your day at 5:45am and finishing your workout at 4:30pm kind of sucks!  Not to mention, your body is so fatigued after a day like that, that it's difficult to sleep (much like after an IM).  Last night I woke up at 2am...and was up for good at 4:50am.  Again...thankfully Epic Saturday is over.  Okay, time to get a couple of runs done...and watch some football!

-P